Apple Begins Offering iPhone 3G/3GS Without AT&T Contract

In what’s becoming the standard move for Apple (s aapl) as it approaches the launch of a new generation of iPhone hardware, the company has begun to offer the iPhone 3G/3GS for sale without contract at full price on its websites and at its brick-and-mortar retail stores. Without contract, but not unlocked, so don’t get too excited yet Sprint (s s) fans.

Of course, there are ways to unlock the iPhones that are simple enough for many computer users, but there lies the tricky mess of possibly voiding your warranty, so tread carefully. It’s likely you’re probably familiar with jailbreaking, risks and all, so I won’t belabor the point.

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Buying the iPhone models off-contract won’t be cheap, since you don’t have a carrier helping out via a hefty subsidy, but as any contract-averse individual will tell you, you’ll end up paying far less for the hardware if you can avoid signing your life away for two whole years. Also you might sleep better at night knowing AT&T (s att) hasn’t successfully sunk its claws into you.

The now aging 3G 8GB iPhone will cost you $499, while the 16GB 3GS lists at $599 and the 32GB 3GS sells for $699 without subsidy. Those prices start to look a lot less reasonable now that Apple has announced the pricing for the iPad, even though when I bought the iPhone 3GS last year I had to pay full price since I was only a year into my three-year contract, it seemed perfectly fine to drop $700.

As for when you can get these unlocked devices, according to PC World, you might be able to do it right now. PCW writer Sarah Jacobsson called her local store and was told that they were already selling the devices unlocked. Apple hasn’t yet made an official announcement regarding the devices, or updated its web store to reflect the changes, but 9to5 Mac got early wind of the move, and Gizmodo later confirmed via official internal Apple documents.

It’s unclear exactly why Apple seems to do this every time the end of its current iPhone iteration is in sight, but a reasonable guess is that the company would like to sell off as many of the on-hand units it has before it has to deal with an influx of new 4th generation iPhone stock. Even if Apple plans to continue selling the iPhone 3GS alongside the next iPhone, which is likely considering the retention of the 3G last time as a low-priced budget option, Cupertino still probably wants to clean house and bolster sales ahead of the launch.

You’re only allowed to buy one per day, up to a maximum of 1o total phones, so if you’re aiming for an even dozen you’ll have to enlist the help of a friend.

BULLSHIT! I purchased an ALLEGEDLY unlocked iPhone 3Gs from Apple’s iPhone supplier in Canada, Fido (Roger’s Inc.) for $900CDN but it WAS NOT UNLOCKED! Appleâ€”contrary to their saying “we care about our customers [money]”â€”cares nothing for their customers and allow FIDO (in Canada) to charge premium rates for their phones with no consequence, costing their so-called “valued” customers thousands of dollars! Apple couldn’t care less for their customers. They ONLY care about selling their products NO MATTER WHAT THE COST to the end-user, as long as they have good relations with their primary customers; the carriers.

dude these guys are fraud tellling to give away 1 phone free after u buy 2 i phones they ask u to transfer a part of the total amount to their account ,i spoke to few of them they are fraud ,never transfer money to them ,just go and buy it from apple show room 3gs will cost 499$

We are Distributor in all kinds of latest Cellphones & PDA, All our products are brand new Unlocked (Original) sealed in box with complete accessories and it comes with 1 year Warranty and 8 months Return Policy.

This person (Jim) is engaged in a fraud behavior of people, offering mobile phones.
Be careful and don’t send to it money
To whom it is interesting, I can give correspondence with it through ÐµÐ¼ÐµÐ¹Ð» and Skype
One of these days I will address in police of Bristola

hi Sergey
R u Sure this JIM is Fraud and and this is not right person to buy iphones pls reply on my Email ID Twobrothers0017@gmail.com
and how u know this person …
have u buy any iphones from this JIM and they will not send to u
pls reply as soon as possible

hey, i am base in brunei darussalan n interested to buy below items. before that i would like to enquiry:-
$250USD APPLE iphone 3Gs 32Gb
$220USD APPLE iPAD (Wifi)64Gb TABLET (does u hv the one with 3G)

-how much total wit shipment to my country?
-how many days will arrive?
-any additional $?

I was given a first generation iphone, I have unlocked it to work with my sim card, but have not used it yet because I have heard that if you have ATT as a carrier they could automatically charge you the $30 service plan. I have ATT, can I use it without being charged the $30 service plan?

I had been dealing with my sync issues with my new iPhone for weeks. Could not get my iphone to work with our exchange 2003 server. I tried many suggestions from the internet. Kept on getting that crazy â€œCannot Get Mail the Connection to the Server failedâ€ message. I am glad I had contacted and went through with their flat rate setup process. It truly was amazing to see my iphone working within 30 minutes.